Ecological Mission of Kayam

Kayam strives to maintain and improve the quality of the ecosystems of the 164-acre campus shared by the Pearlstone Center & Camp Milldale. Through habitat restoration, trail blazing, interpretive signage, and experiential education, we hope to provide visitors with inspirational and informative ecological experiences that give them practical ideas for their own lives and homes and enable them to meet today’s environmental challenges.

Hands-on Projects: Trails

The Kayam Loop Trail circles the perimeter of our campus; it is just over 2 miles long and has multiple entrance and exit points for our guests. The trail includes interpretive trail signs, a beautiful outdoor classroom, and a side trail leading to the confluence of the two streams that border the property and flow into Liberty Reservoir, Patapsco River, and Chesapeake Bay. Volunteers are needed for:

  • Blazing— we are beginning to blaze a 4-mile trail from the Kayam Loop to Liberty Reservoir. We need all the help we can get!
  • General trail maintenance

Hands-on Projects: Habitat Restoration

Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden was designed and planted by Joshua Greenspan for his Eagle Scout Project in October 2007. We need volunteers to help maintain the Butterfly Garden.

Insectary

Bugs are our friends! Some insects are beneficial because they eat harmful pests and pollinate crops. Kayam farm includes an Insectary, which attracts these beneficial insects—help us plant and maintain our Insectary.

Riparian Zone

Wetlands act as an important buffer against pollutants entering our waterways. Pearlstone has its own riparian zone, a wetland buffer planted with native trees and kept unmowed in order to prevent erosion and filter pollutants. We need help with continued plantings and maintenance of our riparian zone.

Invasive Plant Removal

All over our 164-acre campus, invasive species have grown unabated, disturbing native species and dominating our landscape. Invasives are problematic because they often eliminate native plant species and therefore put entire ecosystems at risk. Help us fight back by removing these invaders!

Hands-on Projects: Wildlife Projects

Building Projects

We want to promote helpful wildlife, such as insect-eating birds or birds of prey that eat field mice. We encourage these animals by building artificial habitats that will hopefully attract them. Help us build the following habitats:

  • Bluebird boxes
  • Kestrel boxes
  • Owl boxes
  • Bat boxes

Brush Piles

A brush pile is a big pile of branches, sticks, leaves and other brush deliberately placed over supporting logs. These piles of organic material are important habitat for animals in disturbed areas. Come help us build Brush Piles along our trail system and give our wildlife a safe place to live!

Egg Addling

Large populations of Canada Geese have upset the proper balance of our pond’s ecology. We want to limit the goose population by Egg Addling. Addling literally means “to spoil”. During the spring nesting season, we obtain a state permit to interrupt development off the goose eggs, but we need your help to assist in the addling. It’s important!